PM and Shorten hop off the election trail for Easter

The Opposition leader was joined by his family in a video message released today, as he and the PM agree to down tools for the day.

Bill Shorten sent out a video message on Twitter, alongside his wife Chloe and daughter Clementine to offer their Easter wishes. Picture: Twitter/@billshortenmp

Bill Shorten has paid tribute to those working, travelling and coming together with their families this Easter.

In a brief video message released on Sunday, the opposition leader joined with wife Chloe and daughter Clementine to offer their Easter wishes. “We wish you and your loved ones all the best this Easter,” Mr Shorten said in the 40-second clip.

From my family to yours, have a safe and happy Easter. pic.twitter.com/ZU99TYxT9R

— Bill Shorten (@billshortenmp) April 20, 2019

“For many, Easter is a time that carries deep meaning. It is a time for worship, for reflection, and a special opportunity for families to come together.” Chloe thanked those offering a helping hand to others less fortunate - not just at Easter, but every day of the year.

“As we count our blessings, we also think of people who are doing it tough, and give thanks for all the organisations and charities who lend a helping hand,” she said.

Mr Shorten praised those working over the long weekend, and urged people out on the roads to drive safely and take regular breaks, before the trio joined together to voice one final message.

“From our family to yours, happy Easter.” Mr Shorten and Prime Minister Scott Morrison have agreed to halt their federal election campaigns out of respect for the holy day.

He is expected to attend church in Brisbane, before Labor’s campaign throughout Queensland kicks into gear.

Mr Shorten will be jetting off on Sunday evening to spend several days traversing the sunshine state. There are a swag of marginal seats up for grabs come May 18. The coalition government holds eight key Queensland electorates on margins of less than 6 per cent.

Mr Shorten will also need to sandbag three Queensland seats Labor is clinging onto by wafer-thin margins.

In and around Brisbane, Labor is targeting several marginal seats, including Peter Dutton’s electorate of Dickson, which the Home Affairs minister holds by 1.7 per cent.

Meanwhile, Scott Morrison will also spend Easter Sunday focused on family rather than politics.

The prime minister starts the day in his home town of Sydney.

It’s been a stop-start campaign over the Easter weekend. The two opponents also paused on Good Friday, although both made public appearances with Mr Morrison attending a church service alongside Tony Abbott and some Labor frontbenchers.

On Saturday, Mr Morrison and his wife Jenny handed out Easter eggs to sick children at Westmead hospital.

He also promised to hand over $100 million for clinical trials in regional Australia that would tackle life-threatening cancers, diseases and conditions and $65 million for a new cystic fibrosis centre at the hospital in Sydney’s west.

“This dedicated unit, the first of its kind anywhere in Australia today, is a big breakthrough for those who have lived with cystic fibrosis, to those who have lost family members and friend, and those who will (be) dealing with it into the future,” Mr Morrison told reporters outside the Westmead hospital. Labor gave the promised new centre a tick of approval but questioned why the coalition hadn’t backed its $2.3 billion cancer care plan.

After spending the bulk of the Easter break around Sydney, Mr Morrison is expected to head elsewhere to resume campaigning in earnest.

AAP